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The Shipwreck: Access Statement

The tourist attraction

The Shipwreck is situated in Ta’ Paris, Birkirkara.

The story of St Paul has been embedded in the Maltese culture and identity since the saint’s

arrival on the island.

This docu-drama is based on the voyage of St Paul’s from Jerusalem to Rome. When they set sail

the crew got caught in a fierce storm until they were shipwrecked on the island of Malta. This

historical event is mentioned in the New Testament, in the Acts of the Apostles Chapters 27 and

28 who traditionally believed to be on the ship with St Paul circa 60 A.D.

This docu-drama was entirely shot in Malta and is an in-house production recounting the

historical event through flash backs and flash forwards. All scenes were filmed on a virtual set

using computer generated image (CGI) in the post-production phase. The docu-drama is

available in 6 languages, these being Maltese, English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.

Tourists with different language preferences can opt for their preferred language at one seating

with the use of headsets. During the docu-drama, visitors can also hear the professional actors’

dialogue in Latin, thus depicting the reality of the story. Different shots of places where St Paul

stayed were taken around Malta, depicting remains of the event that are still visible today.

The theatre is equipped with 100 seats all of which are theatre style seating. It is fully air-

conditioned, has thick sound-proof doors and is fully carpeted. The floor in the foyer and the

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reception are tiled. There is also seating in the foyer area with ample space for wheelchair

bound tourists. A life-size reproduction of St Paul is available in the foyer, so that tourists can

take a photo with the main character of the story. The show welcomes guests of all ages and

backgrounds.

The docu-drama is projected with the use of high quality new technology, having 3 projectors

on a 13x4.5m screen (120°). It is a new way of involving the viewer in the story so as to be part

of it, and not just remaining a passive viewer.

Visitors using a hearing-aid are still able to watch and listen to The Shipwreck. The headsets

provided have a special hearing aid system installed, thus providing special transmission for

these guests.

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Since the docu-drama can be experienced through not only visuals but sound, persons who are

visually impaired, are still welcome to experience this production through sound. With the help

of a high quality sound system and speakers, visually impaired visitors are able to engage and

experience this attraction’s story.

Visitors are welcomed with a huge poster of The Shipwreck situated near the car park area, and

a logo sign is installed on the entrance of the building.

The Shipwreck is situated on the ground floor of the complex, opposite the Emmaus bookshop

and gift shop.

Two vending machines are installed in the foyer next to the reception offering coffee and

snacks.

There is a fire alarm installed for any unexpected fire break out. Emergency exits are visible for

visitors showing the way to the fire assembly point. A generator and uninterruptible power

supply (UPS) are installed so if there is a power cut the visitors will not be interrupted during the

duration of the documentary-drama.

Organised group visits take place through tour operators and other religious institutions locally

and aboard.

School visits are also encouraged.

The docu-drama’s duration is exactly 33 minutes.

The show runs every hour from 10:00 onwards. Last admission is at 15:55. Last show is at 16:00.

On Saturday and Sunday the last show is at 14:00.

The entire premises are monitored by CCTV Cameras.

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The Theatre

Special 13x4.5m screen (120° screen)

3 projectors of 7000 ANSI lumens each

Panoramic projection screen

Dolby 5.1 sound system and speakers

Special lighting is used before and after the docu-drama commences

Air-conditioning

Wireless translators with transmitter for 8 languages, also provided for hearing impaired

Headsets available each visitor opting for a multilingual preference language

100 comfortable chairs are set up in a theatre style set up

Waiting area with chairs are installed in the foyer for visitors

A boat show case for merchandising is set up at the gift shop

The Organisation

The Shipwreck docu-drama is a modern attraction which was created by ĊAK - "Ċentru

Animazzjoni u Komunikazzjoni": Animation and Communication Centre (www.cakmalta.org).

The main purpose of the organisation is to provide different communication methods to be

used hence improving means of communication.

Besides The Shipwreck, the main purpose of our organisation is to deliver religious messages

through our publishing services, selling of books, religious souvenirs, organising conferences,

having English courses in our 5 classrooms, with a retreat house Rivotorto, under one complex.

The centre aims to facilitate communication and to assure the achievement of its professional

services. ĊAK is therefore directed by a group of people, namely "the creative team" who study

accurately projects and plans for the communicational activities produced by the centre. The

Centre has good contact with various people who work in the communication field and who

offer their help and professional contribution to the activities carried on by ĊAK.

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Accessibility

The entrance contains of five steps and a ramp for wheelchair bound visitors. The door is made

of wood with a wide door welcoming visitors to the complex. Furthermore, a purposely made

door for wheelchair guests is also available, one can also find chairs installed next to the

attraction’s door for guests to sit before the docu-drama commences.

The complex is fully accessible. Wheelchair bound visitors can easily access the theatre and

easily move around the gift shop. Visitors can also park their car in our 22 parking spots

available in our garage and use the lift available, which can easily fit a wheelchair to access our

attraction. The lift fits 6 persons.

Guest restrooms

Guest restrooms are situated in the foyer on opposite sides of the gift shop and the theatre.

There are two toilet rooms; the ladies toilet is situated on the right hand side of the reception

with 3 cubicles, while the gentlemen’s and special needs restrooms are situated on the opposite

side of the ladies next to the theatre. The gentlemen’s restrooms are in a separate door from

the special needs toilets, having three cubicles as the ladies toilet room. The special needs

restroom is fully equipped for our clients with industry standard hand rails, toilet seat, a wash

hand basin and a mixer handle. All restrooms have soap, toilet paper, two hand basins, mirror,

disposable napkins and a bin. These restrooms are accessible to all visitors.

Emmaus gift shop and bookshop

Emmaus is a unique shop on the island, where you can find a wide variety of religious items. It is

a religious souvenir and bookshop run by ĊAK of the Conventual Franciscans of Malta. The first

shop was opened in Sliema in 2006 and a year later, another shop was opened in Birkirkara,

inside the complex of ĊAK. In response to the great demands, in 2008, Birkirkara’s outlet was

expanded so as to offer a better service and a wider range of products for its esteemed clients.

Its aim is to propagate the word of God and the Catholic faith through books, DVDs & CDs,

cards, icons, holy images, statues & figurines, rosaries, and even through altar wine, hosts and a

large selection of liturgical vessels and paraments. Through our world-wide contacts, we can

choose the best suppliers and guarantee to give the best quality possible.

The shop in Birkirkara inside the ĊAK complex has an area of 169 square meters and is situated

opposite the attraction: The Shipwreck. This shop has a variety of touristic souvenirs about St

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Paul, displayed on a ship designed shelf. Emmaus gift shop helps in up selling our merchandise

to our visitors. In the year (2013) we launched our online shop: www.emmausmalta.com, in

(2015), another Emmaus shop was opened in Victoria, Gozo.

Emmaus (Birkirkara) is open from Monday till Friday 09:00 till 19:00 and Saturday from 09:00 till

14:00

Pre-arrival

Prices are found on posters, brochures, Facebook, Twitter and our website

http://theshipwreckmalta.com/contact-us/.

Tickets are purchased from the gift shop (Emmaus). When presenting the receipt, a ticket will be

issued with a detailed brochure of places related to St Paul and his connection with Malta.

The Shipwreck team are friendly and willing to help visitors, purchasing their tickets and guide

them with information requested.

The attraction has Wi-Fi service for visitors to utilize.

Marketing

There are two brochures designed in-house. One of the brochures is distributed around Tourist

Information Offices (TIO) around Malta, in hotels and Malta International Airport. These

brochures contain a QR code of our location and a map.

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Bus Routes

The nearest bus stop is Paris bus stop in Triq Mannarinu (signages of The Shipwreck are installed

next to the bus stop), and Sisla bus stop at Triq Dun Karm. Buses towards Birkirkara leave from

Valletta terminus, while one leaves from Attard.

Route Leaving from Bus Number Duration from Paris bus stop to the destination on foot

Frequency

Cirkewwa Valletta 41 6 min 30 min

Bugibba Valletta 45 6 min 30 min

Gharghur Valletta 46 6 min 30 min

Attard Valletta 54 6 min 30 min

Naxxar Valletta 43 6 min 30 min

Armier Valletta 49 6 min 30 min

Bugibba Valletta 48 6 min 30 min

Rabat Valletta 50 6 min 30 min

Dingli Valletta 56 6 min 60 min

Bugibba - Mater Dei

Round trip 280 6 min 60 min

Head west on Triq Mannarino towards Triq Dun Filippu Borg

Turn right at Saint Francis Church onto Triq L-Imsida

Turn left onto Triq Kalcidon Gatt

Arrive at Triq S. Sommier / The Shipwreck is on the left

Head southeast on Triq L-Imsida toward Triq Kalcidon Gatt

Arrive at Triq S. Sommier / The Shipwreck is on the left

Route Leaving from Bus Number Duration from Ibghal bus stop to the destination on foot

Frequency

Pembroke P&R – Marsa P&R stop at Ibghal 5 min walk

Round trip 110 3 min 60 min

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Visitors can also use their hired or personal car. They can park in the garage available on Triq

Kalcidon Gatt. The underground parking has a lift that transports you to the foyer. The parking is

free of charge. Guests with special needs can easily fit their wheelchair in the lift.

Around the attraction’s area, parking is easily accessible in streets adjacent to the attraction.

The pavement around the area is wide enough for wheelchairs to pass from. A ramp is installed

for visitors to utilise.

Coaches transporting visitors have a reserved parking space on Triq Kalcidon Gatt near our car

park.

Location

The Shipwreck is situated in Malta’s largest city by size and with a population of 23,000

residents. Birkirkara makes part of the Northern Harbour district with an area (2.7km²).

A 16th

century painting of St Mary’s Parish Church,

Birkirkara’s first parish during the Knights of St John.

Church, the first parish church built.

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Birkirkara has 13 zones these are:

Bwieraq Ta' Paris

Fleur-de-Lys Tal-Brieqex

Għar il-Ġobon Tal-Maħlut

Laqxija Tal-Qattus

Mrieħel Tas-Salib

Ta' Fuq il-Wied Tas-Swatar

Ta' Ganu

The Shipwreck is situated in Ta’ Paris, Birkirkara, hidden in a typical Maltese residential area. It

lies between two main roads that join Malta from the Northern District to the Northern Harbour

District on two main roads. The surrounding area is in a typical Maltese urban area, close to

various places of interest around the locality, these are:

The Old Railway Station Garden, (5min on foot, 800m)

Basilica of St Helen which hosts Malta’s largest bell. (9 min on foot, 700m)

The main open air market (9 min on foot, 700m) (Opens on Wednesday and Friday from

06:30 till 13:00)

Parish of Saint Mary (The first and oldest parish church in Birkirkara) (10min on foot,

900m)

Aqueduct of Wignacourt, built in 1610 and 1614. This mega structure transported a good

supply of drinking water from Mdina (Malta’s old city) to Valletta. It runs over 15

kilometres. This structure still stands till this day.

Sant Anton Gardens (26 min on foot, 6 min away by car, bus 56 from Paris Bus stop to

Strickland bus stop)

Birkirkara: historical background

As a locality, Birkirkara is surrounded by 9 localities, these are Santa Venera, part of il-Ħamrun,

l-Imsida, Tas-Sliema, San Ġiljan, il-Gżira, Ħ’Attard, Ħal Balzan and Ħal Lija. Since this town

became densely populated, 18 towns and villages were formed from Birkirkara.

The first parish church was that of St. Mary (Il-knisja l-qadima). When the populations started to

increase a new parish was build dedicated to St. Helen of Constantinople.

In Birkirkara remains were found which date back to the Roman era, hence the town is of

historical importance.

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History of St Paul in Malta

St Paul is one of Malta’s three patron saints and protectors. His importance is still felt to this

day, having a national feast on the 10th February commemorating the saint’s arrival on the

island, thus introducing Christianity to the population. This devotion started in Medieval Malta,

when pilgrims of St Paul arriving in Malta to visit the grotto in Rabat where Paul lived for three

months and requesting to be buried in the crypt in front of St Paul’s grotto in Rabat. This

devotion gained pace when Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, a devotee of St. Paul, started the

Pauline tradition inviting pilgrims from Europe to visit Malta and see where the saint stayed, re-

incarnating the story as described in the Bible.

Future Plans

We would like to increase language options to meet a variety of visitors that Malta is attracting.

Contact Information

Address:

ĊAK (THE SHIPWRECK),

Triq S. Sommier,

Birkirkara BKR 4611, Malta

Telephone: +356 2144 2373

Email: info@theshipwreckmalta.com

Online presence, website and social media:

www.theshipwreckmalta.com

https://www.facebook.com/theshipwreckmalta/

https://twitter.com/shipwreckmalta

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq7Ub73XXbjd7o9-gECidkw

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g2086651-d7337524-Reviews-

The_Shipwreck-Birkirkara_Island_of_Malta.html,

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Opening hours: Monday till Friday 10:00 till 16:00 (every hour) last admission is at 15:45

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 10:00 till 14:00 (every hour) last admission

is at 13:45

The show is closed on 1st January, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day.

Prices: Adults €7.50 Children (from 3yrs – 12yrs) €5.00

Location of The Shipwreck on Google Maps